“Dumbo,” which is still in development and doesn’t have a release date, is one of a number of new films based on Disney animated classics that the studio has in the works, including this week’s “Cinderella,” next year’s “The Jungle Book” and “Alice in Wonderland: Through the Looking Glass,” and a new “Beauty and the Beast” expected in 2017. Read More »

The holidays are in full swing and it’s likely you’re juggling gift-buying, finalizing travel plans, and coming up with a full-proof game-plan as to how to deal with an increased amount of time spent with your loved ones. The easiest way to distract yourself and avoid uncomfortable silences with your family? Stream a movie! You’d be surprised, though, at how slim the pickings are for watchable Holiday films. There’s no “National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation” or “Elf,” or classics like “A Christmas Story” or the George C. Scott version of “A Christmas Carol.” Still, the streaming platforms do have a handful available that are festive, as well as different takes on the modern holiday films. Here are five recommendations. Read More »

Disney’s “Frankenweenie” picked up an Oscar nomination for Best Animated Feature yesterday, raising the possibility that director Tim Burton will finally take home a gold statuette.

The stop-motion animated film is a remake of his 1984 short film, about a young boy, Victor, who taps the forces of energy and science to resurrect his beloved dog, Sparky. “Frankenweenie” features the voices of Martin Short and Catherine O’Hara, and has just been released on Blu-ray and DVD. Read More »

Typically, death depresses. Death unnerves. The death of a loved one leaves us feeling an aching sort of hollowness that only time can fill.

But in Mexico, death inspires and uplifts, and never goes away. It seems appropriate, then, that movie director Tim Burton, renowned for making light of dark themes, came to the country’s capital to promote his latest stop-motion animation film, “Frankenweenie,” about a boy who revives his dog after it becomes roadkill, at a time when Mexicans are preparing to celebrate death with music, costumes and rituals on their Day of the Dead.

“Of all the cultures I’ve visited and been to, I find the Mexican way of dealing with (death) the most positive,” Mr. Burton told the Wall Street Journal in Mexico City. Read More »

To create the Burbank meets Transylvania world of New Holland, the suburban community at the center of his new 3-D film “Frankenweenie,” Burton looked to his protagonist, a bull terrier named Sparky. Sparky befalls an unfortunate fate, dying at the hands of an unsuspecting automobile driver. His owner, a young boy named Victor, then uses the power of science to resurrect his beloved dog.

The film came together once Burton figured out the size and scale of the dog and received approval from Walt Disney studios to use black and white as well as stop-motion animation.

“When you take the color away, you feel the emotion a little bit more,” Burton told the Journal. He also added that he wouldn’t have made the film, “if someone said no.” Read More »

A trailer for the new film, “Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter,” offers a glimpse of the 3-D mashup film that retells the life of America’s 16th president as a secret vampire slayer.

Combining a retelling of the Civil War with a horror tale of bloodthirsty vampires, both the screenplay and the original novel were written by Seth Grahame-Smith. In the movie, Lincoln (played by Benjamin Walker) wields an axe and slays evil spirits, avenges his mother’s death, emancipates slaves and tries to save his country from the secession of states.

The film, directed by Timur Bekmambetov and produced by Tim Burton, also stars Rufus Sewell, Anthony Mackie and Dominic Cooper. It’s slated to open in June. Read More »

Yesterday director Tim Burton flew in from London –arriving at 5:30 in the morning – for the opening of the new retrospective of his work at the Los Angeles County Museum of Art (the exhibition originally debuted last year in NYC at MOMA). He then signed 1,500 books for Burton fans, met with a few journalists and then hit the opening night reception. He returned to London this morning to continue working on his latest film “Dark Shadows,” staying in Los Angeles a mere 24 hours.

Speakeasy spoke with Burton, the director of such movies as “Edward Scissorhands,” “Beetlejuice,” and “Sweeney Todd,” about his art, life after death, and “Dark Shadows.” Read More »

Johnny Depp and Tim Burton are collaborating on a remake of “Dark Shadows;” NBC has cancelled the spy drama “Undercovers;” former Bachelorette contestent Julien Hug found dead; and the scent of Bieber…

Depp, Burton, Vampires: Frequent collaborators Johnny Depp and Tim Burton will team again for a big-screen remake of the 1960s gothic soap opera, “Dark Shadows.” Burton will direct and Depp will star as vampire Barnabas Collins, a character the actor has been fascinated with since childhood. The series ran on ABC from 1966-1971. The film is scheduled to begin production in April. [Deadline] Read More »

Ridley Scott, Doug Liman and Oliver Stone are among the American directors being represented at the 63rd Festival de Cannes. At a press conference early Thursday morning, the film festival’s artistic director Thierry Fremaux announced the official lineup for the glitzy event, which kicks off May 12.

As previously announced, Scott’s take on “Robin Hood,” which stars Russell Crowe as the titular hero and Cate Blanchett as Maid Marian, will open the festival. The adventure drama premieres in the U.S. on May 14 and is screening at Cannes out of competition. Also screening out of competition are Oliver Stone’s “Wall Street 2: Money Never Sleeps” and Woody Allen’s “You Will Meet a Tall Dark Stranger,” both of which were rumored to be Cannes bound and both co-starring Josh Brolin. Read More »

“Alice in Wonderland,” the 3-D fantasy from director Tim Burton, finished on top of the weekend box office, holding off newcomers “Diary of a Wimpy Kid” and “The Bounty Hunter.”

An adaptation of the Lewis Carroll books, “Alice in Wonderland,” which stars Johnny Depp as the Mad Hatter, took in $34.5 million for the top slot, according to early estimates from Hollywood.com. “Alice in Wonderland” has been the top-grossing film for three straight weeks. Read More »

Two weeks ago, actress and singer Patti LuPone grabbed a cell phone out of the hand of an audience member who was texting during a performance of her current play, "Shows for Days." The bold move led to an outpouring of support from fans fed up with glowing screens. Ms. LuPone gives us her five rules of theater etiquette.